The other day, Riley and I were walking in the woods and we were approached by a dog who a couple of weeks earlier showed signs of being dominant, over-zealous and boisterous with Riley.

I recognised the dog and was tempted to take a quick detour along another path when my plan was vetoed by Mister Riley who bounded up to the dog playfully wagging his tail.

I had no choice but to follow. And although I was aware that I felt some anxiety in the pit of my stomach I couldn’t help but notice that Riley seemed absolutely fine. He was actually really happy and calm and so was the other dog.

Eventually the nervous sensation I was experiencing passed and I found joy in watching to two dogs playing.

For the rest of the walk I couldn’t help but wonder about the characteristics of dogs and how forgiving they are.

Riley didn’t care about the previous encounter with the dog – he probably didn’t even remember it. All he cared about was playing with the dog in that moment.

And this is how he lives his life on a daily basis. He lives in the moment.

Quite frankly, he doesn’t care if I’m tired, stressed, unwell or upset, he greets me with an abundance of love every single day – no matter what.

He doesn’t stress about yesterday or worry about tomorrow. All he cares about is the present – the joys and happy things that are occurring in his life right now.

Some puppy pearls of wisdom…

So, you might be thinking, what’s this got to do with me? How does this help me live a more happy and inspired life?

Au contraire… the truth is it does but only if we’re brave enough to embrace some dog-like attributes.

If we lived life more in the present – no longer stressing about the past or being fearful of the future – we could be happier.

If we chose to let go of our grudges andforgive those who have wronged us we would feel more at peace.

A contented spirit and a calm mind enables us to apply ourselves to more challenges, engage in more enriching and positive thoughts, which in turn lead to opportunities of enlightenment and inspiration.

And, here’s the ultimate doggy trait we should all try to master. If we gave ourselves permission to love those around us without prejudice, without conditions and without boundaries every single day, like Riley does – wow- how much of a difference do you think that could make in your life?

I’m guessing some pretty incredible shizzle could unfurl for you.

And it’s not that hard to do – we can all do this. Riley’s life isn’t complicated. Quite the opposite in fact. A dog’s needs are really simple, as the video explains.

However it’s human nature to over complicate things when in actual fact life needn’t be as complex as we often make it out to be.

It takes more effort and drains more energy from us when we are angry, resentful and unforgiving.

Whats more, the universe spins in the wrong direction for us when we act in a way that is not conducive to having a kind and loving heart.

So, in reality we are doing ourselves more harm than good.

Dogs instinctively know this and that is why they are a terrific example of how to live and thrive.

So, I propose you give it a try for one week and see how much of a difference it makes in your life.

Approach everyone and everything you do with full-hearteded appreciation and commitment.

Remain aware of your intentions and if you feel yourself slipping into a human-like trait of judging and condemning then snap out of it and let your inner dog out to play.

Now, I would absolutely love to hear from you on this.

1. What dog-like trait do you think you could start to implement in your life right now and why do you think it could help you improve, either personally and professionally?

Quick PG Note: If you are a dog owner or dog lover then please CLICK HERE to see a great video. It’s fun and informative. But most of all, it’s full of useful tips and tools to help you become a calm and assertive pack leader. And even if you don’t have a four-legged companion in your life then still watch the video because there are some great principles and philosophies about life that we all can benefit from.

If you liked this post or know someone who struggles with any of the issues raised then please share it and spread this message. It could make a real difference in their life.